SPIERS, Elizabeth [Bessie] Joy

1843 - 1901

Born at 14 St Gilesís Street, Oxford on 11 July and baptised at St Gilesís Church on 9 August 1843, daughter of Richard James Spiers (1806-1877), stationery manufacturer, and his wife Elizabeth PhenenéeJoy (1818-1858), who married at Oxford on 15 July 1837. In 1851, a 7 year old living at 14 St Giles Street, Oxford with her parents, 44 year old Richard and 32 year old Elizabeth and two siblings, Charlotte Horn 6 [q.v.] and Alice Jane Mary. She continued to live with her father at 14 St Giles Street until his death in 1877 when she joined her brother Richard Plene 26, an architect, and sister Charlotte at 21 Bernard Street, St Pancras, London. In 1901, a 57 year old artist still living with her brother Richard and sister Charlotte at 21 Bernard Street. A landscape painter and a member of the Society of Lady Artists. She also painted at Walberswick, Suffolk and was a member of the Ipswich Art Club 1890-1899 and exhibited from 21 Bernard Street, London in 1898 'Sudbury, Suffolk', 'In the Marshes, near Wells' and 'On Brockenhurst Common, Hampshire' and in 1899 'Whitby, Yorkshire', 'The Ouse at Hemmingford Grey, Huntingdonshire' and 'A Fen Road, Cambridgeshire' which were her last. She also exhibited at the Royal Academy 1884-1893 titles included 'Autumn near Reigate' and 'A Tidal Creek, Sussex'; the Royal Hibernian Academy; Royal Society of British Artists; Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours and the Society of Women Artists. She died at St Pancras, London in 1901, aged 58, she was unmarried.